Reviews

Batman: The Dark Prince Charming Book One

DC

Enrico Marini

Does Bruce Wayne have a daughter? In Batman: The Dark Prince Charming, he very well might. And whether she actually shares Wayne's DNA is irrelevant, when Joker kidnaps the young child in a twisted plot to make Bruce Wayne pay to get her back. Of course, kidnapping any child, let alone one potentially sired by Bruce Wayne, will bring Batman's full fury down upon the Joker-if only Batman can find the Clown Prince of Crime before he hurts the girl.

Part one of acclaimed European writer-artist Enrico Marini's American debut is an instant Batman classic. A page-turner from the first panel, Marini's interpretation of Batman could easily be mistaken for that of a veteran Batman writer. The Dark Knight is dark, brooding, and torn between the cowl and the shreds of humanity expected of even a playboy such as Bruce Wayne. Joker, on the other hand, is sinister and callous, completely ambivalent about human life. It's clear Marini has tremendous respect for DC's signature hero and the Gotham Universe, and Bat-fans everywhere should settle in with Book One for a cozy winter's read. (www.dccomics.com)